10 THINGS TO DO FOR COUPLES

1

Botanical Garden Visit

The botanical garden was established in 1901 by Queen Victoria. It features a collection of native palms, endemic plant species, a tortoise park and a shorrrainforest walk. More than 100 years old, the garden is found in the heart of Victoria. Originally planted to experiment with growing crop species during the colonial era, the garden's purpose has since undergone metamorphosis and is a present-day park open to the public. See local bird species at play here, from the Seychelles Bulbul to the Seychelles Blue Pigeon. The garden is also home to the Coco De Mer, a world-renowned palm tree and Aldabran Giant Tortoises, one of the Seychelles Archipelago's 115 variant islands.

2

Victoria City

A 45-minute drive from Banyan Tree Seychelles, Victoria is Mahe's largest settlement and the capital of the Republic of Seychelles. A third of all Seychellois reside in Victoria – a population of 23,300. With local shops and Eden Plaza, couples will enjoy the experience of winding through a postcard-perfect town.

3

Rum Shack and Organic Farm Tour

Taste Seychellian rum while delighting in flaky forkfuls of freshly barbecued fish at the Rum Shack on Intendance Bay. Visit the organic farm garden that supplies Banyan Tree Seychelles with almost three quarters of its fresh ingredients, and engage in an interactive cooking experience that will introduce you to Seychellois gastronomy.

4

Market Street

An array of food and crafts can be found at the market in Victoria. Couples strolling through hand in hand will see fishermen haul their catch to market, stalls offering fragrant spices and citronella, sellers purveying tea and local delicacies and a beautiful collection of local crafts. The locals fashion crafted items from the ubiquitous island coconut, and also make jewellery and silk paintings by hand.

5

Turtle Nesting At Anse Intendance

Banyan Tree Seychelles is a homing zone for turtles to lay eggs each year. Turtle season begins in October and ends in February, when the last nest hatches and the final baby turtle crawls to the sea safely to find life in the ocean.

6

Cathedral Of The Immaculate Conception

This French-colonial-style Roman Catholic church was built in 1874 and is located in Victoria. It is the centre of religious life for many Seychellois and features a small garden with a graceful statue of the Virgin Mary.

7

Day Tour To Praslin And La Dique

With its languid ways, time-honoured traditions and carefree lifestyle, La Digue is a scenic island where you can enjoy a refreshing coconut drink before experiencing plantation life firsthand at L'Union Estate. Swim in the waters of the world-famous Anse Source D'Argent, before feasting on a Creole lunch at La Domaine. Visit the neighbouring island of Praslin and embark on a guided tour to the enigmatic Vallée de Mai, where the legendary Coco-de-Mer grows in the shadow of a hidden valley. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is believed to be the legendary Garden of Eden.

8

Fishing

The island is a spiritual harbour for international sporting and recreational fisherman, who return each year to break fishing records. Numerous records have been set within the teeming archipelago; world records for Striped Bonito, Bonefish, Giant Guitarfish, Bigeye Trevally, Bluefin Trevally, Giant Trevally, Moustache Grouper, Humphead Maori Wrasse and Dogtooth Tuna are just some of them. With some of the world's ripest fishing waters, Seychelles has an abundance of Wahoo, Sailfish, Dorado, Tuna, Rainbow Runner and Marlin, making it a big-game fishing arena for both seasoned and novice fishermen. Nestled in the heart of the Intendance Bay, Banyan Tree Seychelles provides excellent fishing grounds for guests.

9

Eden Plaza

The exclusive Eden Island development is located just off Mahé and is home to a finite number of luxurious villas, sophisticated maisons and stylish apartments. The development also boasts a full-service, deep-water marina with private moorings for each residence in the resort. In addition to exceptional accommodation, Eden Island is also well equipped with secluded beaches, restaurants, bars, swimming pools, a gymnasium, child-friendly play areas and a world-class shopping centre.

10

Banyan Tree Spa

Like its sacred floral namesake, the Banyan Tree Spa offers guests a Sanctuary for the Senses – a place for physical, mental and spiritual renewal. To achieve this, the Spa focuses on a non-clinical and holistic approach based on traditional Eastern healing therapies. Its approach celebrates the human touch and the use of natural herbs and spices. Banyan Tree Spa pioneered the Tropical Garden Spa concept with its Eastern therapies and holistic focus on spiritual, mental and physical harmony. As Asia's first upmarket oriental spa, it reintroduced an exotic blend of ancient health and beauty practices reverently passed down as generational heirlooms.